Cabinet and hopper combination for gaming machines

Abstract

A cabinet and hopper combination is set forth for slot machines which includes a cabinet structure having an opening for coins to drop from the machine into the hopper. The hopper is removably mounted in the cabinet and has a door slidable between a closed and an open position. A handle at the outside of the cabinet operates a linkage coupled to the door to open the hopper to dispense coins or tokens therein through the front of the cabinet. Also included are devices to lock the handle against unauthorized dispensing of coins or tokens.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hopper and cabinet combination for a gaming device of the type adapted to receive token wagers, said combination comprising: said cabinet includes (i) a top to support the device, said top having an opening to pass said tokens from the device,   (ii) a frame structure to support the top define a receptacle for a hopper below said device, and   (iii) a front;     said hopper includes front, side and rear walls converging from a mouth to a chute;   means for removably securing the hopper in the receptacle with the mouth aligned with the opening and the chute disposed at the cabinet front;   a door disposed in the chute and slidably moveable from a closed position to an open position;   an actuator at the cabinet front; and   means responsive to said actuator for sliding the door from a closed position to an open position to release retained coins from the hopper to the front of the cabinet.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opening is kidney shaped. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for removably securing the hopper in the receptacle includes a bracket disposed at either side of the receptacle, each bracket including an upstanding tab and said hopper includes a pair of flanges each adapted to seat on a bracket and including a slot to seat said tab. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein each bracket includes a flat to receive and register with a flange. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein each bracket has substantially a z-shape cross section defined by said flat and a mounting surface. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said bracket includes a pair of spaced tabs and each flange includes a pair of corresponding slots. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hopper includes a track adapted to support and guide the door. 
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the track is disposed at the chute. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the door is flat having sides and the track includes a pair of spaced rails to receive and guide said sides. 
     
     
       10. The combination of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a handle and the responsive means includes a linkage coupled between the handle and door to translate movement of the handle to sliding of the door. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 10 including a shaft attached to the handle, the shaft having a longitudinal dimension and is adapted to slide longitudinally and said linkage includes a first arm coupled to the shaft, a rod mounted for rotation about an axis, a second arm coupled to the rod and pivotally attached to the first arm and a drive arm coupled to the door. 
     
     
       12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the door includes a slot to slidably receive the drive arm. 
     
     
       13. The combination of 10 including a shaft attached to the handle, the shaft having a longitudinal dimension and adapted to slide longitudinally and means for locking the shaft against said longitudinal sliding. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said shaft includes a notch and the locking means includes a plate, means for mounting the plate for pivotal motion from a lock to an unlock position, means for urging the plate to the lock position whereat the plate is received by the shaft notch and means for displacing the plate to the unlock position to free the handle for longitudinal movement. 
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the locking means includes a lock having a rotatable tumbler and a foot secured to the member to engage and displace the plate. 
     
     
       16. The combination of claim 15 further including at least one of a (i) first sensor means adapted to sense longitudinal movement of the handle shaft and issue a signal in response to said sensed movement and (ii) a second sensor adapted to sense movement of the foot and to issue a signal in response to sensed movement. 
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 16 including a controller adapted to receive signals from each sensor and to store data corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said controller includes a clock and a memory and means for storing data corresponding to the time of receipt of a signal. 
     
     
       19. The combination of claim 15 including a host processor located remote from the device and means for issuing any signals thereto. 
     
     
       20. The combination of claim 14 wherein the locking means includes an electrically driven unit having a member, and means for energizing the unit to displace the member to displace the plate. 
     
     
       21. The combination of claim 20 including a controller including a data structure including code data and means for inputting a code, said controller in response to input of a code corresponding to said code data energizing said unit. 
     
     
       22. The combination of claim 21 further including a host processor and means for communicating a signal from the controller to the processor in response to energizing said unit. 
     
     
       23. A hopper and cabinet combination for a gaming device of the type adapted to receive token wagers, said combination comprising: said cabinet includes (i) a top to support the device, said top having an opening to pass said tokens from the device,   (ii) a frame structure to support the top define a receptacle for a hopper below said device, and   (iii) a front;     said hopper includes front, side and rear walls converging from a mouth to a chute;   means for removably securing the hopper in the receptacle with the mouth aligned with the opening and the chute disposed at the cabinet front;   a planar door disposed in the chute and slidably moveable from a closed position to an open position;   a handle having a shaft, said handle moveable between a door open and a door closed position;   a linkage coupling the shaft to the door adapted to translate movement of the handle from the door closed position to the door open position to sliding of the door from the closed to the open position to dispense coins from the hopper through the chute.   
     
     
       24. The combination of claim 23 including means for locking the handle against movement said locking means including a lock having a displaceable member and a locking plate pivotally disposed between the lock and shaft and adapted to engage the shaft to prevent movement of the shaft, said member disposed to engage and displace the plate to release the handle. 
     
     
       25. The combination of claim 24 including means for sensing movement of the handle and generating a signal in response thereto. 
     
     
       26. The combination of claim 24 including means for sensing movement of the member and generating a signal in response thereto.